Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Main / ClueFromEd

Go To

1[[quoteright:206:[[{{Webcomic/Narbonic}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/narbonic-diamondfootnote_384.jpg]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:206:[[MadScientist Helen]] has enough clues as it is.]]
3
4Comics trope for any long-running serialized story with an intact continuity. An event mentioned in dialog or captions has an asterisk next to it, and down near the panel border is a little message, saying something like, [[AC:"See Volume 4, Issue 3 - Ed."]] Sometimes, in [[TheVerse shared universe]] titles, it may be an issue of a completely different comic series.
5
6Some comics fans, especially young ones, may wonder who this Ed, the enormously helpful man at the comics company, must be. Of course, most of the older fans figure out that this is in fact "the editor". This little footnote also entices the reader to seek out the back issue that includes the story in question. Or, if they don't have the issue, it's an incentive to go out and buy it.
7
8Back in [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks the Silver Age]], many of these footnotes in Marvel Comics would be credited to a "(Adjective that begins with 'S') Stan". This was, of course, a reference to Creator/StanLee.
9
10Use of these notes has been dissuaded by companies today (and they are allegedly all but banned at Marvel to "hide" the {{Continuity Snarl}}s), but they are starting to make a comeback.
11
12Can also be used for a joke in an article, in which case it's NoteFromEd. If you're reading a webcomic, the AltText may double as this.
13
14----
15!!Examples:
16
17[[foldercontrol]]
18
19[[folder:Comic Books]]
20* Used a lot in the Archie ''[[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics Sonic]]'' and ''ComicBook/MegaManArchieComics'' comics, even using it as a method of {{MST}} in some parts. One in ''Mega Man'' #13 doubled as ProductPlacement for an upcoming graphic novel of the previous arc, which was due in several months after that issue's release. Another in ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' #252 had the Ed. about to point out in which issue an event that [[spoiler:''never happened before'' took place before going "Wait a minute...", realizing the scale of the ContinuityReboot caused by the CosmicRetcon at the end of ''Comicbook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide''.]]
21* Subverted in the second issue of ''ComicBook/WisdomRudimentsOfWisdom'', in which the clues all refer to comics that have never existed.
22** The Creator/{{Infocom}} computer game ''VideoGame/LeatherGoddessesOfPhobos'' came with a "Lane Mastodon" comic that did the same.
23** ''Megaton Man'' did this as well, referencing to titles that never existed.
24* [[http://mightygodking.com/images/Civil_War/cwp_02_10.jpg This photoshopped page]] (originally from ''Civil War'') starts off with a very good example of how editorial footnotes used to be used, and then goes on to parody Marvel's current-day reluctance to use them as fictional versions of Creator/MarkMillar and Creator/JoeQuesada enter in their own editorial boxes to try and throw Creator/StanLee's old-school notations out (and him).
25* DC Comics blundered themselves into a minor flackstorm of criticism regarding editorial footnotes. When asked why ''[[ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis Countdown]]'', which was absolutely dense with references to events from other comics to the point where it was pretty much unreadable on its own (okay, it was pretty much unreadable, period), had no editorial footnote boxes, DC responded that "that's what the Internet is for". The Internet was not amused. DC started putting the boxes in.
26* This was sometimes PlayedWith during Stan Lee's tenure as editor, where an event from a past comic would be mentioned, and there would be an associated note, seemingly to inform which issue it happened in... only for Stan to note that while the readers may remember, [[ForgetfulJones he sure as hell didn't]]. - Shamefaced Stan
27* Parodied by ''ComicBook/OneHundredAndOneWaysToEndTheCloneSaga'', with the editor forgetting what ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} means when it's mentioned, having to return several panels later without prompting from the dialogue.
28* ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'': Marvel is infamous for its overuse of the "[[YouAreTheTranslatedForeignWord Midgard = Earth]]" caption whenever Thor is in a comic. Many have asked why not just translate it into Earth then, or why make that note when people can just Google it these days. Nevertheless, they have kept doing it, with at least one case reading "Earth, because we're [[RunningGag obligated to do this]] in every comic Thor appears in."
29* Used very sparsely in ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'', generally to point you towards a cool event that was just mentioned. They are not attributed to an editor.
30* Done in ''Walt Disney's Comics and Stories'' #699, as it's Boom's first run of the series which had been not running for about a year, and dealing with [[ComicBook/{{Ultraheroes}} Disney Superheroes]] that American audiences wouldn't be expected to be familiar with (except maybe Super Goof). They decide to turn it into a running gag, pointing out things that should be really obvious. (hence the name "-Obvious Aaron")
31** Italian Disney comics regulatly do it too. In later years some writers started to use them to actually call out the reader for not remembering the story (or stories) they're calling back to, asking them to ''stop reading'' the current story until they don't finish to read the older one(s).
32* The [[ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse Amalgam era]] of Marvel/DC used these, but more often than not subverted this by referring to [[UnInstallment comics that didn't exist]].
33* ''[[ComicBook/TwoThousandAD 2000 AD]]'''s Editor-In-Chief Tharg the Mighty always refers to these as "Tharg Notes."
34* Often parodied in ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' comics: for example, when a character makes a reference to something that happened during the Onslaught event, the clue box [[CanonDiscontinuity refuses to admit it ever happened]]. Another time the box blatantly admits that there's no good reason to remember the villain from an earlier appearance in another comic, as it wasn't very good.
35* Also parodied with fake references in the MAX ''Wisdom'' miniseries.
36* Frequent occurrences in ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'', and quite helpful at that since all the stories have names, and therefore it's easy to recall in what context the character/event/general happening last made an appearance. Of course, it also helps that there are only 23 albums.
37* ''ComicBook/ChickTracts'' does this with Bible verses. They don't always have a clear connection with the events of the panel. In some comics they will also cite more recent books, often those they published.
38* Parodied in at least one ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' where we see one of the comic books Calvin is reading, though with no attribution to "Ed." or anyone else.
39* When Comicbook/{{Quicksilver}} revealed his [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands new power of flight]] in ''Comicbook/XMen'' Vol 1 #44, a box added "As peerlessly portrayed in ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' #?? --Sorry-About-That-{{Creator/Stan|Lee}}". (It was #43.)
40* ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' and its sister series ''ComicBook/TheTransformersRobotsInDisguise'' do this sometimes, although only to events before they started (mostly from the previous ongoing). They aren't labeled "Ed", though.
41* Parodied in the newest ''ComicBook/HowardTheDuck'' series, with multiple heroes referencing past events having to do with Howard, and the clue box mentioning completely fake comics. There was also a genuine direction to ''Howard the Duck'' #1, which got into a whole thing about ''which'' #1 it meant (not the current series, and not the original series, but the series that had started the previous year, before being reset).
42** ''Comicbook/SpiderManDeadpool'' does a similar thing during the "Infinite House of Civil yet Secret Crisis War Invasion" arc, with the clue box claiming more could be found in the tie-ins to the non-existing CrisisCrossover the title is alluding to.
43* ''ComicBook/PatsyWalkerAKAHellcat'' has it frequently given its reliance on {{Continuity Nod}}s, especially to Hellcat's tenure in Comicbook/TheDefenders in the 1970s. And given it's a comedic title, more often than not the thing mentioned is so weird that it warrants a NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer.
44* Creator/AlEwing's Marvel work is very heavy on continuity nods so his comics tend to include a [[FootnoteFever lot of editor's notes]] this was even lapmshaded in ''Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'' #12 when after one too many:
45--> ** Loki already knows! See ''Comicbook/AngelaAsgardsAssassin #2''! - Wil (Last one! Promise)
46* ''Comicbook/CrimeSyndicate2021'' features clue boxes directing the readers to the Syndicaters' solo titles, and snarking about the fact [[UnInstallment they don't exist]] and it therefore isn't possible for the reader to purchase and read them.
47[[/folder]]
48
49[[folder:Literature]]
50* One set of ''Literature/HouseOfLeaves''' footnotes is of this sort.
51* Some of the old ''Literature/DoctorWhoNovelisations'' have footnotes explaining {{Call Back}}s and {{Continuity Nod}}s. The novelisation of ''The Day of the Doctor'' has two referring to the novelisations of "Silence in the Library" and "Listen" ... which sadly [[UnInstallment don't exist in this universe]].
52* The second and third ''Literature/JamesBond'' novels, ''Literature/LiveAndLetDie'' and ''Literature/{{Moonraker}}'', have footnotes for the first reference to the previous novel.
53* Some non-English versions of ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'' contain editorial footnotes to explain jokes that do not survive CulturalTranslation. Befitting the written style of the books, these notes are often informal and conversational in tone and wouldn't be out of place within the actual Guide.
54[[/folder]]
55
56[[folder:Manga]]
57* ''Magazine/ShonenJump'' tends to do this to explain cultural terms or Japanese writing. One issue of ''Manga/KarakuridoujiUltimo'' got stupid with it, though, when a character said he was a bodyguard of the nobility, and the footnote explained that bodyguard meant [[ShapedLikeItself "a bodyguard of the nobility"]].
58* ''Manga/DragonBall'''s English translation is an interesting example due to the SequelDisplacement caused by [[Anime/DragonBallZ the Z anime]], whose popularity convinced Creator/VIZMedia to [[MarketBasedTitle re-title those chapters]] as ''Dragon Ball Z''. Fans picking up the first volume of ''Z'' will find a few notes mentioning that certain, unexplained things such as previous adventures and characters were established in ''Dragon Ball'' and that you should read that if you want to know more.
59* "Logic and Hime-chan's Punch", one of the comics in the ''Manga/HoshiiroGirldrop'' anthology, is [[FootnoteFever covered]] with Clues from Ed. While it focuses on the relationship between two of the characters, all the events they reference are footnoted by nonexistent previous chapters.
60[[/folder]]
61
62[[folder:New Media]]
63* Used in the "iFanboy" podcast to refer to earlier episodes or make corrections to misspeakings by the hosts.
64[[/folder]]
65
66[[folder:Webcomics]]
67* Parodied in a ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' comic about Tycho's [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2002/02/27/ hatred of the undead.]] The print version takes it a little farther, referring to the strip's "Kool-Aid thin continuity".
68* Parodied on [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/9p12/ this page]] of ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja''.
69** Also [[http://drmcninja.com/archives/comic/17p60 here]].
70--->Honestly, why haven't you read all of D.A.R.E. by this point? I've given you plenty of notice. What is wrong with you? - Ed
71* The "Battle for the Lost Diamond Mines of Brazil" storyline in ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'' beginning strips had these in ''every panel'' as a FootnoteFever gag. Interrupted by Helen through the fourth wall breakage, see page image.
72* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt:'' Tom Siddell made [[http://gunnerkrigg.wikia.com/wiki/Image:437alt.jpg this subtle piece of satire]] as a response to the fans who were confused by the FlashBack on [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=437 the original version of page 437]].
73* Parodied in [[http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=28 this]] ''Webcomic/DinosaurComics'' strip.
74* ''Webcomic/AxeCop'' links some seemingly [[AssPull out-of-place]] facts to the FourthWallMailSlot or printed media.
75* Rather than clutter up the page itself, ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' always starts off TheRant with a list of links to mentioned events.
76* Mentions of previous ''Webcomic/{{Huckleberry}}'' chapters get this treatment. Characters can have custom asterisks in their speech bubble, such as Huckleberry's small berry.
77[[/folder]]
78
79[[folder:Web Original]]
80* One ''Website/{{Cracked}}'' article had a LeaningOnTheFourthWall moment where the writer started an argument with "Ed".
81-->'''SCREW YOU''', Ed!!
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Western Animation]]
85* In keeping with its comic book-like style, ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse'' has several onscreen Clues From Ed., with two notable instances being to explain {{Hammerspace}} and why Spider-Punk says he “[[BritishEnglish/CockneyRhymingSlang ain’t got a]] Franchise/ScoobyDoo” about something.
86[[/folder]]
87

Top